Safety razor



L. L. WITTER SAFETY RAZOR May 1932 Filed Oct. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet y 1932- L, L. WITTER 1,856,305

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Oct. 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Patented May 3, 1932 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWJRTE ll. "WITTIER, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GILLETTE SAFETY ltAEOTt GOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SAFETY RAZOR Application filed Dctober 27, 1930. Serial No. 491,387.

to a preferred embodiment of my invention ll ell'eet this by providing means which so cooperates with the razor clamping and releasing means that the parts are automatically brought to the said rinsing position by the is releasing operation.

While my invention is not limited to any specific types of safety razors, it is particularly applicable to and is herein illustrated in connection with the new Gillette safety are razor. Among other improvements "featured in this razor is a rust-proot blade which needs only to be rinsed alter shaving, thus elimi hating the blade-removing and drying operations heretofore necessary. When this razor is to be rinsed, the razor parts are released from their shaving position suficiently to permit a rotary adjustment of the guard to a position relatively transverse to the blade and cap. llhen clamped in this relatively Ill! transverse position, the blade is held loosely between the cap and guard and is so exposed as to permit thorough rinsing thereof. l accomplish the desired results by providing on the cap and guard cooperating stops or shoulilers which are so relatively spaced when the parts are in the shaving position as to permit relative movement of the cap and guard to the rinsing position and definitely stop them in that position, the ease, rapidity and accuracy of this adjustment being thereby greatly facilitated.

The adjusting of the parts to the rinsing position and stopping them in such position can be accomplished by various forms of mechanism. The stop means however, will ordinarily comprise cooperating shoulders on the cap and guard, it being understoodthat these shoulders may or may not be an integral part of these members but need only be hired relative thereto. For example, in

one form of my invention I have illustrated the cap shoulder as being formed on the blade which is fixed against rotation on the cap. The means for moving or adjusting the parts to the rinsing position will ordinarily comprise some form of engagement between the guard and clamping stem which will function to automatically rotate the guard to the rinsing position relative to the cap and blade when the parts have been sufliciently released to permit such rotation. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I prefer that this engagement shall be of a frictional nature and that the stem shall furthermore have such an engagement with the guard as to withdraw the guard bodily from the cap as the stem is unscrewed. The production of a razor and blade having these improved tea" tures comprises further objects of my inven tion herein.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain specific embodiments oi my invention but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended hereto being relied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures on the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a safety razor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partially assembled view thereof, the guard being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to F ig. 2 but showing the parts in the rinsing position.

Fig. t. is a sectional view taken on line H of Fig. 2 and showing the razor blade assembled therewith but not clamped into shaving position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing the razor clamped into rinsing position.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a modified form of the razor and blade.

Fig. 7 is a view thereof similar to Fig. 2..

Fig. 8 is a view thereof similar to Fig. 3.

For convenience of description I have illustrated my invention herein as applied to the new Gilette safety razor, although it will be understood that the invention is by no means limited thereto. This type of razor comprises a cap 10, a guard 12 and a handle 14, a blade 16 being adapted to be clamped between the cooperating faces of the cap and guard. The handle makes threaded engagement with a stem 18 on the cap and the cooperating faces of the cap and guard are respectively concave and convex whereby when the normally plane and resilient blade is clamped therebetween it is flexed into concavo-convex shape transversely. The blade is centrally perforated at 20 and centrally slotted at 21. The cap is formed with a rib 22 for receiving and locating the blade thereon, the guard being grooved at 24 to receive the rib. The corners of the blade may be notched at 26'to provide clearance for reinforcing lugs 28 at the corners of the cap.

One of the improved features of this razor is the blade which has been so treated as to render it rust-proof. It is therefore only necessary to thoroughly wash the blade to remove all lather and sediment therefrom after shaving, no drying of the blade being required. This washing operation can be performed in a very thorough manner by rinsing under a faucet if the blade is quite fully exposed. To thus fully expose the blade, the handle 14: is unscrewed from the cap stem 18 sufliciently to permit the guard to turn to a position crosswise of the cap and when the guard has been turned to such position the handle is again tightened thereunto. The clampingpressure on the blade being thus released, the blade assumes its'normal plane shape and is loosely held between the cap and guard since the outer convex face of the guard rests on the blade-engaging rib of the cap. One of theobjects of my invention is to provide means for automatically turning the guard to and locating it in this position when the handle 14 is unscrewed.

Referring first to the form of the inventio shown in Figs. 1-5, the rib 22 is formed with raised step portions 30 at opposite sides of and adjacent to the stem 18 and the cooperating grooved portion of the guard is slotted through at 32 to receive the steps 30. Diametrically opposite arcuate recesses 34: are also formed on the guard, these recesses being of a radius to receive the step portions 30 and forming diametrically opposite shoulders 36 against which the steps are adapted to engage. When the parts are clamped in the shaving position, the rib 22 and steps 30 are respectively received within the groove 24 and slot 32. When the handle 14 is unscrewed and the guard is separated from the cap sufficiently for therib and steps to clear the guard, the guard maybe rotated to the transverse rinsingposition shown in Fig. 3 and it Will be automatically stopped in such position by the engagement of the steps 30 with the shoulders 36. The handle may then be tightened to hold the parts in such position for rinsing.

In addition to thus automatically locating the parts in the transverse rinsing position, I prefer to make the razor fully automatic by providing means for also automatically moving the parts to such position. It Wlll be noted that the threaded end of the handle 14 tapers outwardly at 38 and I have provided a pair of lugs 40 on the outer face of the guard and at opposite sides of the cap stem receiving hole for receiving and engaging this tapered portion of the stem therebetween. The stem engaging faces of the lugs are spaced to receive the stem with a' slight axial play or looseness .therein. A ring-like spring 42 secured to the guard by a screw 44 normally bows outwardly in a manner causing a slight frictional contact between the stem and lugs, as shown in Fig. 4:. When the handle is unscrewed the engagement of the handle with the lugs withdraws the guard from the cap, one hand of the operator holding and unscrewing the handle while the ends of the cap and blade are grasped by the thumb and finger of the other hand. The frictional engagement between the handle and guard causes the guard to automatically rotate with the handle to the transverse stop position shown in Fig. 3, when the guard is separated from the cap sufficiently to permit its rotation relative to the cap. The parts are then clamped in this rinsing position as shown in Fig. 5. It will be observed that in this position the inner face of the blade is quite fully exposed for rinsing. When the rinsing is completed the operator again holds the ends of the cap and blade with one hand and operates the handle with the other. The handle is first slightly rotated backwardly to release its clamping action and then rotation thereof in the forward direction automati- Cally brings the guard back to the shaving position shown in Fig. 2. The frictional action between the handle and guard therefore functions automatically to both rotate the parts to rinsing position and return such parts to the shaving position.

It will be noted that the form of the -in-- vention shown in Figs. 1-5 and just described requires a slight modification in the razor but no change whatever in the blade. The form of my invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 requires a slight modification in the blade. In the automatic operation of the razor, the guard is rotated relative to the cap and blade, the blade being non-rotatably seated on the cap. The first form of my invention locates the guard by an engagement thereof with the cap. and the same result may be secured by locating the guard by an engagement with the blade which is non-rotatable relative to the cap. I will now de scribe this latter form of the invention.

neeaeoa ll he razor parts shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 be similar to or identical with the parts own in lligs. 1-5. For brevity and coniience therefore 1 have indicated such corpending parts by the same reference characters primed. A pair of pins 50 are mounted on the convex blade engaging face he guard at diametrically opposite sides and adjacent to the cap stem receiving hole 52 therethrough. The blade is provided with aperture having oppositely disposed arcuate portions bounded by walls tier, extending circumferentially approximately 9d and each terminated at either end by 7 an inwardly projecting shoulder 56. The arcuate portions form passages in which the tit} free to move when the cap and are turned with respect to each other. are arrangement of the pins 50 and the arcuate portions bounded by the walls 54 is such that each pin engages one shoulder when oarts are in the parallel position shown in and engages against the shoulders at the ends of the arcuate portions when are in the relatively transverse poon shown in Fig. 8. The cap is perforated at 58 to receive the pins when the razor is ed into shaving position.

no operation of this form of the invention substantially the same as above described reference to Figs. lb and is believed to obvious. The blade is non-rotatably sup ported on the cap. When the handle is unu revved the frictional connection of the banle with guard at 40 causes the handle to retract the guard and rotate it with the idle when the guard has been sufficiently separated from the cap to permit such rotation. Thepins thereupon pass along the arcuate portions bounded by the Walls 54 in blade until they engage the opposite ulders 56. the rotation of the guard is thereupon arrested with the parts in the rinsposition shown in Fig. 8 and the handle be tightened to hold them in that position. The parts may, after the rinsing operation, be automatically returned to the shaving position shown in Fig. 7 in the same manner heretofore described in reference to Figs. ll5.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters l. A. safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, means including a rotary screw threaded stem for connecting the cap and uuard and clampingthem together with a ade therebetween, and means providing a frictional connection between the stem and guard for automatically rotating the guard to a predetermined position transversely of the cap when the guard and cap are separated a predetermined amount.

A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, means including a rotary screw threaded stem for connecting the cap and guard and clamping them together with a blade therebetween, means for separating the cap and guard as the stem is unscrewed, and means causing such a frictional engagement between the stem and guard as to rotate the guard to a predetermined position transversely of the cap when the guard and cap are separated an amount permitting such rotation.

33. A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, means including a threaded stem providing a threaded connection between the cap and guard for clamping them together with a blade therebetween, the guard and cap being relatively'rotatable about the stem axis when the threaded connection is released to a predetermined point releasing the clamping action but not disengaging the threaded connection, and stop means for so limiting the said relative rotation that the cap and guard will be located in relatively transverse positions with the threaded connection maintained.

t. A. safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, means including a stem for connecting the cap and guard and clamping them together, the cap and guard being relatively rotatable about the stem axis when the connecting means is released to a predetermined point, and means including cooperating shoulders on the cap and guard for limiting the said relative rotation.

5. A safety razor comprising a cap member, a guard member, means including a stem for connecting the two members and clamping them together with a blade therebetween, the members being relatively rotatable about the stem axis when the connecting means is released to a predetermined point, a lug on the blade engaging face of one of said members and adapted to project through an aperture in the blade, and a shoulder on the other member, said lug and shoulder being so relatively located as to come into engagement after a predetermined amount of said relative rotation.

6.. A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, a threaded stem on the cap, a lug on the cap adjacent to the stem, the stem and lug being adapted to project through a blade clamped between the cap and guard and the cooperating face of the guard being provided with a recess to receive the lug, and a shoulder so located at one end of the recess as to permit such a limited rotation of the guard on the cap about the stem as to leave the guard in a position relatively transverse to the cap.

7. A safety razor comprising a cap memher, a guard member, a blade therebetween, a centrally disposed stud on one of said members and projecting through centrally disposed holes in the blade and other member, means on one of said members engaging till tilt) the blade and preventing their relative rotation about the stud axis, and a lug on the other member projecting into an aperture in the blade and so spaced from the blade along a path concentric of the stud as to permit a limited rotation of said other member relative to the blade.

8. A safety razor comprising a cap member, a guard member, a blade therebetween, a centrally disposed stud on one of said members and projecting through centrally disposed holes in the blade and other member, a portion of the blade bordering the hole therein being cut away to form a passage concentric with the hole, means on one of said members engaging the blade and preventing their relative rotation about the stud axis, and a lug on the other member projecting into said passage and so spaced from the blade along a path concentric of the stud as to permit a limited rotation of said other member relative to the blade.

9. An oblong safety razor blade having a centrally disposed hole therethrough and portions of the blade on opposite sides of its central longitudinal axis being cut out to form two passages concentric with and at diametrically opposite sides of the hole, and a shoulder at each end of each passage, the said passages and shoulders on opposite sides of the hole being symmetrical.

10. An oblong safety razor blade having a centrally disposed hole therethrough, the blade bordering the hole on opposite sides of the central lon itudinal axis of the blade being cut out to orm two arcuate portions constituting passages concentric with and at diametrically opposite sides of the hole, and a shoulder at each end of each passage, the said passages and shoulders on opposite sides of the hole being symmetrical.

11. A safety razor blade having a centrally disposed hole therethrough and a centrally disposed slot through the blade and intersecting the hole, portions of the blade bordering the hole on opposite sides of the slot being cut away to form two passages concentric with the hole, and a shoulder at each end of each passage, the said passages and shoulders on opposite sides of the hole being symmetrical and diametrically opposite each other.

12. A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, means includin a threaded stem for connecting the cap an uard and clamping them upon an interposet? blade, a connection between the stem and guard constructed and arranged, when the stem is: unscrewed, first to withdraw the guard from the cap and then to cause angular movement of the guard until arrested in a predetermined position transverse with respect to the cap.

- 13. A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, an interposed blade, connecting mechanism including a handle frictionally connected to the guard and rotatable first to separate the cap and guard and then to turn the guard angularly with respect to the cap, and a stop for limiting such angular movement of the guard.

14:. A safetyerazor comprising a cap member, a guard member, an interposed blade, and connecting mechanism including a handle frictionally connected to one of said members and rotatable first to separate the two and then to turn one into a position transverse with respect to the other, and a stop for determining said position.

15. A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, an interposed blade, and connecting mechanism including a handle rotatable first to separate the cap and guard and then to turn one of the two into a transverse position with respect to the other, and a stop for determining said position.

16. A safety razor comprising a cap, a guard, an interposed blade and connecting mechanism including a handle rotatable in one direction to clamp the 'ca and guard upon the blade, positive means or determining the relative position of the cap and guard When in clamped relation, and a connection between the handle and guard operative when the handle is loosened first to disengage the cap and. guard and then to turn one with re-' spect to the other until arrested in a prede te'rmined position.

17. A safety razor blade having an internal blade-locating aperture and a central opening presenting oppositely disposed arcuate walls extendin circumferentially approximately 90 an terminating in an inwardly projecting shoulder.

18. A safet razor blade having a bladelocating slot t erein and a centrally disposed aperture presenting concentric arcuate walls upon opposite sides thereof separated from said slot by inwardly projecting shoulders.

19. A safety razor comprising a cap, a 'uard, an inter osed blade, connecting means for clamping t e cap and guard in parallel relation upon the blade and for turning the guard crosswise of the cap in releasing the blade, and a stop for arresting the guard in such crosswise position.

20. A safety razor comprising cap and a LAVVRIE L. WITTER. 

